Black Dragon Pool, also known as Dragon Spring Temple, lies on the northern outskirts of Kunming, about twelve kilometers away from the city center. It was first built in 1394, the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu Emperor s reign in the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that there was once a black dragon living in the pool at the foot of the mountain, hence the name Black Dragon Pool.
Two important buildings around Black Dragon Pool are Dragon Spring Palace (Longquan Palace) and Black Dragon Palace (Heilong Palace), which is surrounded by thick forests and tall bamboos. Black Dragon Pool is counted among the ancient scenic spots in Kunming and is well known for its five treasures. First, a visitor standing on the stone bridge of the pool will surprisingly find that the water on each side is a different color. Although the two halves are connected, the fish from one side never swim to the other. The second treasure is an ancient plum tree with great green boughs, which is still thriving after 1,000 years. Third is the big cypress planted in the Song Dynasty that has such a thick trunk that four or five adults can circle it with their arms stretched out. The fourth treasure is the camellia tree planted in the Ming Dynasty which blossoms every year, preceding all the other camellias. Finally, the temple holds a large amount of inscribed stone slabs, tablets and plaques, most of which were made by master artisans. In addition, the Black Dragon Pool also boasts the largest plum garden in China, which covers an area of over twenty-eight hectares and presents 6,000 plums in eighty-seven varieties, creating an ocean of flowers every winter.
Two important buildings around Black Dragon Pool are Dragon Spring Palace (Longquan Palace) and Black Dragon Palace (Heilong Palace), which is surrounded by thick forests and tall bamboos. Black Dragon Pool is counted among the ancient scenic spots in Kunming and is well known for its five treasures. First, a visitor standing on the stone bridge of the pool will surprisingly find that the water on each side is a different color. Although the two halves are connected, the fish from one side never swim to the other. The second treasure is an ancient plum tree with great green boughs, which is still thriving after 1,000 years. Third is the big cypress planted in the Song Dynasty that has such a thick trunk that four or five adults can circle it with their arms stretched out. The fourth treasure is the camellia tree planted in the Ming Dynasty which blossoms every year, preceding all the other camellias. Finally, the temple holds a large amount of inscribed stone slabs, tablets and plaques, most of which were made by master artisans. In addition, the Black Dragon Pool also boasts the largest plum garden in China, which covers an area of over twenty-eight hectares and presents 6,000 plums in eighty-seven varieties, creating an ocean of flowers every winter.